SAILING: Good turnout despite weather at Draycote open day

Draycote Water Sailing Club's open day gave more than 150 people the chance to try sailing and windsurfing PICTURES BY MALCOLM LEWIN

Published:09:08Wednesday 25 May 2016

More than 150 people take to the water

The prospect of rain and strong winds did not deter visitors from coming along to Draycote Water Sailing Club’s Open Day on Saturday. A steady stream of people came through the club to find out more about sailing and have a go on the water.

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More than 150 people went out in a range of club and member boats, including Bahias, Flying Fifteens, Wayfarers, a Dart 15 and 16. Of these, 25 people tried out windsurfing, first on the dry-land simulator and then on a tether on the water. Special thanks go to the two windsurfing instructors who spent several hours chest deep in the not-so-warm stuff helping beginners onto the boards!

Most, though not all the visitors took advantage of the club’s wetsuits but even those who came ashore wetter than they had anticipated still had big smiles on their faces.

A few visitors signed up as members on the day, with many more, especially the youngsters, keen to sign up for the training courses which run through the summer and intensively over the summer holidays.

The Open Day was part of the RYA’s nationwide ‘Push the Boat Out’ initiative to get sailing clubs and centres across the country inviting local people to come and ‘have a go’ at sailing and windsurfing. It was also part of the Warwickshire Big Day Out.

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Draycote Water is an RYA Champion Club, an RYA-approved Training Centre and OnBoard Centre. Visit www.draycotewater.co.uk.